APPLE HAS INVITED its mateiest mates in the media to a ‘Gather Round’ event on Wednesday 12 September where it is expected to unveil a bunch of new iPhones and some other overpriced electronic trinkets.

We can expect three new iPhone models, with all of them borrowing the nasty ‘notch’ concept introduced with last year’s iPhone X.

Bloomberg also reports that Apple is planning to introduce a ‘gesture control system’ and there could even be some dual-SIM variants in some regions.

A bunch of other updates are also expected, including to the AirPod earphones, a new AirPower wireless charging unit, new Apple Watches and some upgraded iPad Pro tablets.

Given that the event is less than two weeks away, that doesn’t give Apple fanboispeople much time to save up.

Of course, if by ‘Gather Round’ the invite just means a guided tour of the company’s new HQ a lot of people are going to be a bit miffed.

We’ve rounded up everything we know about Apple’s incoming trio of iPhones below, and will update this article as we hear more.

Release dateApple’s 2018 iPhones normally launch in September with availability for the keenest buyers within about a week. Hence, news of Apple’s ‘Gather Round’ event on 12 September makes it pretty much nailed on as this year’s iPhone launch date.

PriceAccording to rumours, the iPhone 9 will be the most-affordable in Apple’s 2018 iPhones. Apple guru Ming-Chi Kuo expects the smartphone to retail for $600-$700 (around £450-£530).

There’s no word yet as to how much the iPhone 11 or 11 Plus will fetch at launch, but if anything like last year’s iPhone X, don’t expect them to be cheap.

Latest news30/08/18 2018 looks set to be a big year for Apple fanpeople, as the firm is reportedly planning to launch three new smartphones: the iPhone 9, iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Plus.

If the rumours are legit, the iPhone 9 will be Apple’s ‘entry-level’ offering and will pack an iPhone X-a-like 6.1in LCD screen with room up top for Face ID. The so-called iPhone 11 and 11 Plus, also referred to as the iPhone X2 and iPhone X Plus, will sport 5.8in and 6.5 OLED displays, respectively, with rumours also pointing to souped-up camera setups, an upgraded 7nm A11 CPU, and a brand new USB-C charger.

30/8/18: Apple’s ‘affordable’ iPhone 9 will be delayed beyond September, according to – who else – Ming-Chi Kuo. In a research note seen by Apple Insider, Kuo claims that while the high-end OLED models will be available to buy next month, the 6.1in LCD model will be made available later in the report.

There is some good news, though, as Kuo expects the device to be powered by the same A12 SoC that will be found in the higher-spec models. The 7nm chip will reportedly offer ’20 to 30 per cent’ performance gains compared to Apple’s A11 chip, and will offer better battery efficiency.

Contrary to earlier reports, Kuo also predicts that the new iPhone models will not support the Apple Pencil, as the accessory “does not currently offer a good user experience.”

29/8/18: Apple looks set to ditch 3D Touch from all of its 2018 iPhones. That’s according to Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis, via MacRumours, who claims thatit’s “widely understood” that 3D Touch will be removed from iPhones with OLED displays in 2019.

28/8/18: Apple’s 2018 iPhones looks set to offer a hefty performance boost, according to Macworld, which has taken a look at what we can expect from TSMC’s incoming 7nm A12 chip.

Based on TSMC’s own claims, and some educated guessing, Macworld says it expects the A12 processor to offer 20 to 30 per cent performance gains compared to last year’s A11 Bionic CPU, along with a 40 per cent reduction in power consumption.

It expects the 7nm processor to stick to a six-core design, which will earn it a multi-core performance score of around 13,000 in Geekbench 4. For single-core performance, it’s likely to increase the A11’s 4217 score to around the 5,000 mark.

21/8/18: Apple’s 2018 iPhones will be available to pre-order in less than a month’s time on 14 September, according to German publication Macerkopf. The website, citing two unnamed German carriers, reports that networks are preparing to start taking pre-orders on 14 September, suggesting that Apple is planning an announcement later that week, likely on 12 September.

Last year, we saw new iPhones announced on 12 September, pre-orders kicking off on 14 September and then an official release on 22 September.

17/8/18: Taiwanese publication Economic Daily News has backed up reports that Apple’s 2018 OLED iPhones will ship with Apple Pencil report. The site, which got its information from “industry insiders”, claims that the second-gen iPhone X and 6.5in iPhone X Plus will both be compatible with the Apple Pencil, but notes that the 6.1in LCD model won’t be compatible with the stylus.

15/8/18: Apple’s 2018 iPhones will offer Apple Pencil support and up to 512GB built-in storage, according to research firm TrendForce.

It’s unclear whether these features, similar to those found on Samsung’s newly-launched Galaxy Note 9, will be available on all three incoming iPhones or reserved for Apple’s higher-end OLED models.

These OLED models will, unsurprisingly, be more expensive than the “budget” 6.1in LCD iPhone 9, which Trendforce expects to have a starting price of around $699 to $749. The so-called iPhone X (2018) and iPhone X Plus will have starting prices of $899 to $949 and $999, respectively, according to the research firm.

The report confirms that the two OLED models are already assembled, while the budget LCD model will begin assembly in mid-September, in line with the smartphones’ rumoured September and October release dates, respectively.

14/8/18: Yet another video showing off Apple’s 2018 iPhones has cropped up on YouTube (below), courtesy of DetroitBORG. The seven-minute video shows off new dummy units obtained by Sonny Dickson, and refers to the incoming devices as the iPhone 9, iPhone X (2018) and iPhone X Plus. The clip doesn’t have many surprises in store, but the “fairly accurate” models show that all three new iPhones will feature a notched design to accommodate Face ID. The ‘cheap’ LCD iPhone 9 will sport a single-lens camera on its rear, while its presumaly more expensive siblings will retain the iPhone X’s dual camera system.

9/8/18: Well-known phone reviewer Marques Brownlee has given us our best look at Apple’s 2018 iPhones yet – although he, presumably accidentally, refers to them as 2019 models.

In a video posted to YouTube (below), Brownlee goes hands-on with dummies of the so-called iPhone X2, iPhone X Plus and iPhone 9, confirming that the notch will be the same size on all of the three models, and that the 6.5in iPhone X Plus will boast a smaller design than Apple’s current iPhone 8 Plus.

He also gives us a good look at the protruding camera lenses on the three iPhones, with the iPhone X2 and X Plus both packing dual camera setups, while the LCD model sticks with a single-lens rear-facing camera. This ‘cheaper’ model will also stick with Apple’s first-gen Face ID tech, according to Browlee, while the duo of iPhone X-branded models will be upgraded to the firm’s second-gen tech.

7/8/18: We’ve seen plenty of mock-ups of Apple’s incoming iPhones, but thanks to a new leak courtesy of Slashleaks, we may have caught a glimpse at a 6.1in iPhone 9 in the flesh for the first time.

The image (above), which appears to have been taken in a factory, gives us a somewhat blurry look at the rear of the so-called iPhone 9. If legit, the leak confirms that the 6.1in LCD iPhone will feature a larger camera sensor paired with a repositioned dual LED flash.

6/8/18: Apple’s rumoured dual-SIM iPhone will be exclusive to China, according to a report from Economic Daily News.

The Chinese news outlet, citing a source at Foxconn, reports that the 6.1in LCD iPhone will be the only model to support the functionality, with the handset to be made available in both single and dual-SIM models; the latter which it claims will be made available exclusively in China.

According to the report, Apple’s made the decision because it’s common for people in China to have more than one mobile phone number, with as many as three to four billion consumers using dual SIM cards.

Cirrus Logic, which makes audio hardware for iDevices, posted its fiscal quarter guidance this week, which Ramsey claims “all but confirms that Apple will not bundle the DAC headset converter ‘dongle’ in its new iPhone models”.

As per Apple Insider, Ramsay notes that the dongle will continue to ship with older iPhone models, just not with Apple’s incoming iPhone 9, iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Plus.

Brazilian Apple news site iHelpBR has uncovered evidence in the fifth iOS 12 beta that appears to confirm that the device will feature a screen resolution of 1242×2688 and support for iPad-esque landscape app design. According to the website’s digging, stock apps such as Calendar, Contacts, and Messages are already being optimised for a landscape layout.

“Apple released the fifth test version of iOS 12 for developers yesterday. To our surprise, when running the new build with the supposed resolution of the iPhone XS Plus, it was possible to view the applications in landscape mode as they are displayed on the larger models,” iHelpBR noted.

31/7/18: Apple released the fifth developer beta of iOS 12 on Monday, which appears to have confirmed that the company is planning a dual-SIM iPhone model to be released this year.

Spotted by 9to5Mac, a component of the system responsible for the generation of diagnostic reports includes new references to “second SIM status” and a “second SIM tray status”, while another component references a “dual sim device”. This all but confirms that a dual-SIM model will debut this year, although it remains to be seen whether it will make its way to Blighty.

30/7/18: Twitter tipster Benjamin Geskin has shared images of what he claims to be dummy units of the 6.5in iPhone 11 Plus and the 6.1in LCD iPhone 9 (below).

The images, if legit, don’t tell us much we don’t already know, but ‘confirm’ that the LCD iPhone features a single rear camera, while the iPhone 11 Plus uses a dual-camera layout similar to that on the iPhone X, not a triple-lens camera as previously speculated. As expected, they also show the so-called iPhone 9 with larger bezels than its higher-spec sibling.

Confirming an earlier report from Ming-Chi Kuo, Qualcomm’s CFO George Davis said on Wednesday confirmed that: “Apple intends to solely use our competitor’s modems rather than our modems in its next iPhone release. We will continue to provide modems for Apple’s legacy devices.”

Davis didn’t mention Intel by name, but the rival chipmaker is the only other supplier of that component for Apple’s smartphones.

Apple’s decision to ditch Qualcomm likely comes as a result of escalating tensions between the two firms, which have been embroiled in a legal battle for more than a year.

25/7/18: The cheapest of Apple’s 2018 iPhones, the 6.1in LCD iPhone 9, will be made available in six different colours, according to Macotakara.

Apple guru Ming-Chi Kuo has already had a similar prediction and last month claimed the LCD iPhone would come in gold, grey, white, blue, red and orange colour options. Macotakara, on the other hand, predicts the colours will be white, black, flash yellow, bright orange, electric blue and taupe – all colours of cases that Apple currently flogs.

There’s no red in Macotakara’s prediction, which makes sense given that this colour is typically reserved for Apple’s (PRODUCT)RED launches.

This iPhone 5C-esque colour lineup will likely be reserved for the iPhone 9, with rumours claiming that the 5.8in and 6.5in iPhone 11 and 11 Plus will only be made available in three colours: gold, grey and silver.

So says Japanese blog Macotakara, which reports that the 18W charger will come with a USB-C to Lightning connection, won’t be available to purchase seperately due to supply constraints. The initial supply will only meet Apple’s needs for 2018 iPhones, so buyers will have to wait until next year to purchase the accessory.

If legit, the images confirm that low-cost, 6.1in LCD iPhone 9 won’t feature a completely bezel-free display of the 5.8in and 6.5in OLED models, despite Apple’s plan to adopt new backlight-reducing chips order to achieve a full-screen design.

The leak doesn’t give much else away, beyond confirming that all three models will adopt a notched design to facilitate Apple’s Face ID tech.

13/7/18: Apple will adopt backlight-reducing chips for its upcoming LCD iPhone in order to equip it with a full-screen design.

A report out of Digitimes claims that Apple will “exclusively” use Japanese manufacturer Nichia’s 0.3t LED chips for its 6.1in LCD iPhone, which will equip the device with similar brightness to previous LCD models but also with the same super-thin bezel as the iPhone X.

“While LTPS-LCD smartphone screens with backlights using 0.4t LED chips have bottom bezels of 4.0-4.5mm, use of 0.3t LED chips can reduce them to 2.0-2.5mm, enhancing LCD screens’ competitiveness against OLED all (bezel-free) screens panels,” the report explains.

Digitimes notes that while the use of 0.3t LED chips comes with greater technical risk, especially when it comes accuracy and stability, Nichia “successfully started production” in the first half of 2018.

According to earlier rumours, Apple’s LCD iPhone – which is expected to be the cheapest of the firm’s three incoming iPhones with a starting price of $700 – will allegedly be made available in grey, white, blue, red and orange colour options.

5/17/18: Apple is reportedly planning to introduce as many as five new colour options with its 2018 iPhone line-up.

At least that’s according to a report from renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, seen by 9to5Mac. He claims that the 6.5in OLED iPhone, expected to arrive as the iPhone X Plus, will be offered in black, white and a new gold option.

The ‘entry-level’ 6.1in LCD iPhone will allegedly debut in more out-there grey, white, blue, red and orange flavours, according to Kuo.

As noted by 9to5Mac, the reference to ‘grey’ and ‘white’ models could be a nod to Apple’s current Space Grey and Silver finishes, while the rumoured red model could arrive as part of Apple’s PRODUCT(RED) lineup – although these typically arrive months after an iPhone has been launched.

There’s no word yet as to whether the 5.8in iPhone X successor will be offered in any new colour variations.

In his research note, Kuo is also raising his prediction for iPhone sales. He expects the cheaper, LCD iPhone to account for 55 per cent of sales when the new iPhones launch, and take even more share through 2019.

He’s clearly expecting a burst of demand, too, and expects that Apple will see significant growth with sales of 70 million iPhones in the fourth quarter.

4/7/18: Images posted on Chinese blog Chongdiantou claim to show off the USB-C charger that will ship with this year’s iPhones.

The images allegedly give us a glimpse at an “engineering sample” of the 18-watt USB-C charger, which is also expected to be bundled with Apple’s incoming iPads.

While the labelling looks different to Apple’s usual style – suggesting this could be a third-party accessory from China – the design of the charger matches up with earlier leaks, which suggested that the 18W accessory would be oval-shaped and offer a USB-C input.

While the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X all offer support for wireless charging, Apple doesn’t currently offer the accessories to enable it. With third-party accessories, though, USB-C fast chargers can just an iPhone from empty to 50 per cent in less than half an hour.

3/7/18: TheiPhone X Plus has cropped up on Geekbench, confirming that it’ll offer a decent upgrade under the hood.

The handset, referred to as the ‘iPhone 11,2’ in the Geekbench listing first spotted by BGR, will come equipped with a new six-core CPU (D321AP), 4GB RAM (1GB more than the iPhone X) and Apple’s iOS 12 software, which has a major focus on performance.

The aforementioned CPU will likely be Apple’s homegrown A12 chip, built by TSMC, which is expected to be the industry’s first 7nm chip, which will – in theory, at least – offer more speed and better efficiency than the 10nm chips found in current iDevices.

That rings true in the Geekbench scores, as the so-called ‘iPhone 11,2’ trounced Apple’s current iPhone X flagship with a single-core score of 4673 and a multi-core score of 10,912. The iPhone X, for comparison, scored 4206 and 10,123, respectively.

The video (below), sent to 9to5Mac by tipster @shaimizrachiwho has shared accurate dummies for iPhones in the past, shows off the duo of incoming devices next to current iPhone models, including the flagship iPhone X.

Cases from accessory maker Sketch are also shown in the video, suggesting that case companies are already started making designs ahead of an official announcement from Apple in September. Probably, at least.

The iPhone 9, as expected, appears to have a single camera on its rear, adding weight to rumours that it’ll be Apple’s entry-level offering this year. Earlier rumours also point to a 6.1in LCD screen, with Apple opting against OLED in order to keep the cost of the handset low.

The iPhone X Plus appears to be the same size as the iPhone 7 Plus it’s stacked up against, despite packing a larger 6.5in screen. This is because Apple has ditched the large bezels seen on its Plus-sized model in favour of its notch-equipped, iPhone X design.

The audio-less video also appears to show a dual camera setup on the rear of the so-called iPhone X Plus, despite some rumours pointing to a Huawei P20-esque triple-camera setup.

The video does not show the expected 5.8in OLED model, but Mizrachi has teased that “another surprise” is coming.

29/6/18: Apple has reportedly roped in LG to supply OLED screens for its 2018 iPhones in a bid to lessen its reliance on Samsung.

The South China Morning Post reports that LG Display will initially supply Apple with between 2 and 4 million OLED screens, small fry compared to how many tens of millions of iPhones the firm likely will produce, as it “continues to work on ramping up capacity”.

However, LG – which is reportedly considering opening a new OLED production factory in the Chinese port city of Guangzhou – has bigger ambitions though, and is reportedly looking to secure all OLED orders for one of Apple’s 2018 iPhones, likely the 6.5in iPhone X Plus.

Such a move would help Apple to lessen its reliance on Samsung, which is currently the sole supplier of displays for the iPhone X and has been linked to the smartphone’s £1,000 starting price. However, on the other hand, LG’s OLED displays have previously received lacklustre reviews – particularly when it comes to the bork-ridden screen on Google’s Pixel 2 XL.

“Securing a second supplier for OLED screens is crucial for Apple as it will allow the company to reduce its reliance on Samsung, which is currently the sole supplier,” said Jerry Kang, a senior principal analyst at IHS Markit.

“At the same time, it will help accelerate a broad adoption of OLED screens. More suppliers means more volume, and in turn, lower pricing.”

27/6/18: Apple’s 6.1in LCD iPhone will arrive in September despite “difficulties” in mass production, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In a new research note, Kuo – now of TF International Securities after leaving KGI Securities – reiterates his previous predictions that the mid-sized iPhone will be a “popular option” thanks to its iPhone X-a-like features and lower price-tag.

He writes that the 6.1in iPhone will feature an LCD display with an all-screen (read: notch-equipped) design similar to that seen on the iPhone X. Because of the decision to switch to LCD, Kuo claims that mass production is “more difficult” and will unlikely kick off until later this year, but notes that the model will be ready for release in September.

And it’ll be cheaper than first thought, too. Kuo says that he expects the LCD iPhone to retail for $600-$700 (around £450-£530), despite previously predicting a $700-$800 starting price.

New iPhones aren’t the only new Apple products to expect this year either, according to Kuo. He notes that the firm will also launch a cheaper MacBook Air, iPad Pro models with Face ID and new Apple Watch models with larger displays.

22/6/18: The largest of Apple’s incoming 2018 iPhone trio, the iPhone X Plus, is expected to be the most popular model.

Korean website The Bell reports that the so-called iPhone X Plus, which will allegedly pack a 6.5in OLED display, is likely to be Apple’s best-seller, with the firm ordering more screen panels for the plus-sized handset than any other model.

It claims that Apple has ordered 45 million 6.5in panels, compared to around 25 million panels for the 5.8in iPhone X successor, and 30 million 6.04in LCD screens for the new lower-priced flagship.

The Bell notes, however, that these orders could be readjusted “depending on future sales”, noting that Apple scaled-back parts orders earlier this year due to lower-than-expected demand for the iPhone X.

19/6/18: Chipmaker Intel has begun production of modem chips for Apple’s next-generation iPhones.

Thanks to escalating tensions between Apple and Qualcomm, Intel is expected to supply the majority, if not all of the modem chips for Apple’s 2018 iPhone line-up.

Nikkei reports that Intel has started production of the XMM 7560 modem chips, the first that the chipmaker has produced in-house.

“XMM 7560 [modem chips are] now in the process of being deployed… It is in trial and mass production”, Intel’s VP of Technology, Systems Architecture and Client Group, Asha Keddy, was quoted as saying by Nikkei as saying.

Keddy added that the XMM 7560 modem chip is a milestone for Intel as it is the company’s first with CDMA support, which means iPhones equipped with the new Intel modem chips will finally be available on all major carriers.

Built on the 14nm process, the XMM 7560 is also the first modem chip by Intel to offer download speed of up to 1Gbps with support for 35 LTE bands.

The report claims that Intel is also working with Apple to develop the XMM 8000 series of 5G modems which are expected to debut in the iPhone models set to arrive in 2019.

Following recent chatter that the incoming iPhone trio would be the first to ship with a USB-C cable, Rosenblatt Securities analyst Jun Zhang claims that Apple might team up with new suppliers who can provide higher-powered charging components.

In a research note seen by AppleInsider, Zhang says he expects Apple to upgrade from 5V 2A to 9V 2A and 5V 3A charging circuitry in its upcoming iPhones, thanks to a partnership with a company called Power Integrations who will allegedly replace ON Semiconductor and NXP as the “the main provider for the charging solution for all new iPhone and iPads.”

This shift will allow the iPhone to “support more applications, provide a quicker recharge, and better compete with Android OEMs,” Zhang said.

12/6/18: Apple’s new iPhones will reportedly ship with a Lightning to USB-C cable as Apple prepares to add a USB-C port to its 2019 iDevice lineup.

The unlikely rumour comes via Digitimes, which claims that Apple will bundle 2018 iPhones with a Lightning to USB-C cable and a new 18W charger, enabling users to take advantage of Type-C fast charging without needing to buy additional accessories.

More interestingly, Digitimes claims that Apple will be ditching its proprietary Lightning connection, first introduced in 2012, with USB-C in 2019. The shift, which will see Apple joining the rest of the smartphone world. was allegedly considered for the 2018 iPhones but left too late in the process to implement.

Although such a move seems unlikely, it also makes a lot of sense. Apple has already adopted USB-C in its MacBook devices, and USB Type-C is more robust than the firm’s own Lightning connector in terms of bandwidth.

What’s more, adopting USB-C would allow Apple device users to use the same cables and charging accessories across all of their devices, albeit bad news for those who have forked out for Lightning headphones or other accessories.

11/6/18: Leaked schematics have given us a closer look at Apple’s incoming iPhone X Plus and LCD ‘iPhone’.

The schematics were obtained by Forbes from accessory maker Ghostek, and there’s a fair chance the latter has access to design information ahead of the handsets’ September launch. It’d also provided Forbes with accurate schematics before, most notably ahead of the launch of the Galaxy S9.

First on show is the iPhone X Plus (above) which Forbes claims will come with a 6.5in OLED screen, corroborating earlier rumours. The handset will allegedly measure in at 157x77x78, making it slightly smaller than the iPhone 8 Plus. However, it’s expected to boast a steel chassis, which will likely make it weightier than its aluminium-clad, plus-sized predecessor.

The schematics also show what Forbes claims is a triple-lens camera on the rear of the iPhone X Plus, similar to that seen on the Huawei P20 Pro. However, one of the three cutouts is likely a flash, as Apple isn’t rumoured to be switching to triple-lens cameras until next year.

Next up is Apple’s long-rumoured “affordable” LCD handset (below), which Forbes claims will be called the, er, ‘iPhone’.

This will have a 6.1in screen, according to this latest leak, and will measure in at 147.12×71.52 mm – longer and wider than current iPhones with 5.8in displays.

The report notes that the ‘iPhone’ will come with the same Face ID tech as first seen on the iPhone X, while the iPhone X Plus will boast ‘second generation’ mug-scanning tech.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, famed for his accurate Apple forecasts, said in a recent research note (via MacRumours) that pricing for Apple’s incoming iPhones could start at just $600 (£465). That will bag you the 6.1in LCD model, according to Kuo.

Apple’s 5.8in iPhone 6 successor will cost between “$800-$900” (£600-£670), Kuo claims, which means despite offering similar specs to the current iPhone X, it could be

Unsurprisingly, the rumoured 6.5in OLED iPhone will be the most expensive of Apple’s 2018 smartphones, with Kuo predicting a starting price of between $900 and $1,000 (£670-£745).

Kuo said in his research note: “We forecast that Apple will adopt a more aggressive price policy for the following reasons: (1) concern over the negative impact of a higher price in a mature smartphone market on selling momentum, (2) improved cost structure, which is mainly attributed to assembly yield improvements of end product & 3D sensing and cost reduction of components, and (3) increasing users of Face ID benefiting the promotion of the Apple service and ecosystem.”

Kuo also believes that Apple will announce and release all three 2018 iPhones in September, including the LCD model which recent reports claimed won’t start shipping until November.

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